Everton’s u21 side will host an unattached player XI in a behind closed doors friendly at Finch Farm on 9 August.
The date, which coincides with the first team’s first ever appearance at Bramley Moore Stadium, is part of a PFA drive to offer opportunities to young players who were released from their clubs at the end of the 2024/25 season.
The club will invite club affiliated staff and scouts from Premier League, Football League and the top three tiers of non league football to attend the match, which will give players a chance to be spotted by scouts and continue their professional or semi-professional career.
The match will also have benefits for Everton’s youngsters too. As well as getting minutes in the pre season legs of the Everton u21 side, it will also showcase Everton’s best young players in front of scouts who may want to give them loan opportunities next season.
Everton will be hoping to send a number of players out on loan for the 2025/26 season including u21 star Isaac Heath, who has signed a contract extension with the club. Other candidates are Roman Dixon, who made his first team debut at the beginning of last season, and Martin Sherif, who ended the u21 season in fine goalscoring form.
Everton will also be hoping for more successful loans for Jenson Metcalfe, who suffered from injury issues at Chesterfield in League Two, and Francis Okoronkwo, who scored just twice for Salford in a difficult season for the striker.